PANORAMA OF ECOLOGICAL FILMS

SPONSORED BY PCAI

In November (18 – 21.11.2015), PCAI (Polyeco Contemporary Art Initiative) sponsored the Panorama of Ecological Films organized successfully for the twelfth consecutive year by the Greek Company of Environment and Culture.

This is a 4 day event, during which documentaries on the environment from around the world are shown. Awarded films, Greek and foreign, high aesthetics documentaries, short and feature films, carefully selected by a three-member committee will be screened at the Greek Film Archive “Lais” and the building of the Greek Society for Environment and Culture in Plaka between 18 – 21 of November. In this year’s Panorama 18 films from Greece, Italy, USA, France, Great Britain, Denmark and Colombia have been selected.

Among these outstanding documentaries, three stand out for their special filming and themes. Chasing Ice, the award-winning documentary by Jeff Orlowski, conclusively demonstrates the reality of climate change by placing 25 time-lapse cameras in parts of the Arctic, which recorded for three years throughout the day, ancient mountains of ice disappearing within seconds. Climate change is visible through the shocking images of the documentary that won an EMMY award last year. Xenos, by Mahdi Fleiffel is a short film which we have been waiting for anxiously. The documentary follows Palestinian immigrants on their journey to safe and stable Europe. Their journey comes to a halt when they reach Greece in times of crisis. Climate change is one of the major causes of migration and poverty in the developing world. Finally, Trashed staring Jeremy Irons, where he travels around the world discovering the magnitude and consequences of the global waste problem.

Kepler, by artist George Drivas was shown on Sunday the 22nd of November during the last day of the festival. After the screening, George Drivas did a short presentation of the film followed by a conversation with the audients.

The Panorama of Ecological Films also functions as a brainstorming platform for both artists and experts of each field by organizing open panel discussions with the audience. After completing screenings in Athens, Panorama will travel to other parts of Greece, aimed at raising awareness of the general public. So far, Panorama has organized viewings in Skiathos, Skopelos, Sifnos, Skyros, Messinia, Arkadia.